Secure stream buffer on network attached storage

ABSTRACT

A network attached storage device coupled to a local network and including a network interface configured to receive digital content from a remote content provider outside the local network. The network attached storage device includes storage having a first region accessible by a user of the local network and a secure region. The network attached storage device includes a processor coupled to the storage, the processor configured to control access to the secure region of the storage based on instructions received from a remote content provider.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/575,358, filed on Sep. 18, 2019, entitled SECURE STREAMBUFFER ON NETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat.No. 10,447,667, filed on Apr. 16, 2018, entitled SECURE STREAM BUFFER ONNETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No.9,948,618, filed on Feb. 5, 2015, entitled SECURE STREAM BUFFER ONNETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE, the disclosures of which are herebyincorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

Network providers are continually attempting to increase their revenue.One method of generating revenue is to control the transmission ofstreaming data on their network, sometimes called “throttling.”Bandwidth throttling includes the intentional slowing of internetservice by an Internet Service Provider (ISP). It can be employed incommunication networks in an attempt to regulate network traffic andminimize bandwidth congestion. Throttling may include limiting a user'supload and download rates on programs such as video streaming.Throttling the data transmission in a stream environment may causedeterioration in a display of the received transmission. For example,throttling may cause the end display to hic-up or stall while waitingfor the next packet. Network operators are currently receiving paymentfrom content streamers, Netflix®, Hulu®, etc., in exchange forguaranteed Quality of Service (QoS).

Display devices often have very limited display buffers. Such limiteddisplay buffers keep the cost of the display low. Limited buffer sizealso limits content from being misappropriated from the buffer.Streaming content providers prefer to stream the content to the user inorder to maintain control over the content, e.g., by controlling theclient to which the content is being transmitted and how much content istransmitted at a time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating aspects of an example Network AttachedStorage device having a secure region.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating aspects of a Network Attached Storagedevice connected to a stream content provider.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating aspects of a Network Attached Storagedevice connected to a stream content provider.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams of a Network Attached Storage deviceproviding user access to purchased content.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram, illustrating aspects of a method of streamingcontent to a network attached storage device having a secure region.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram, illustrating aspects of a method of receivingstreaming content at a network attached storage device having a secureregion.

FIG. 7 is an example system diagram of various hardware components andother features for use in accordance with aspects presented herein.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of various example system components, in accordancewith aspects presented herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of various configurations and isnot intended to represent the only configurations in which the conceptsdescribed herein may be practiced. The detailed description includesspecific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understandingof various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that these concepts may be practiced without these specificdetails. In some instances, well known structures and components areshown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.

Several aspects of buffering streaming content using a secure portion ofa network attached storage will now be presented with reference tovarious apparatus and methods. These apparatus and methods will bedescribed in the following detailed description and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings by various blocks, modules, components, circuits,steps, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as“elements”). These elements may be implemented using electronichardware, computer software, or any combination thereof. Whether suchelements are implemented as software or hardware depends upon theparticular application and design constraints imposed on the overallsystem.

Network streaming of media content such as movies and televisions shows,among other types of content, has become commonplace. At times, networkproviders, such as ISPs limit or throttle certain streaming hosts, forexample, to extract financial gains for providing Quality of Service(QoS).

Aspects presented herein provide a way to maintain smaller sizes ofbuffers on display device and to maintain control over content whileensuring that content can be viewed without deterioration due tothrottling through the use of a Network Attached Storage (NAS) devicehaving a secure portion for buffering streaming content. Such a NASdevice may be used, e.g., as part of a home network to provide forprivate buffering of streaming content for any number of displaydevices.

As most display devices have very limited buffering capability, suchbuffering at a NAS device may help to ensure QoS at the display device.

Additionally, by buffering the media at the NAS device, the mediacontent can be viewed without the hiccups or stalling due to throttling,because the content is already buffered and can be viewed without beingstreamed over the Internet.

Control of the media may be maintained by the stream content providerthrough the security employed by the secure portion of the storagedevice. This portion may be secured, e.g., by designating the media asprivate. Access to the private buffer may be sold on a subscriptionmodel to streaming content providers.

Additionally, individual display devices do not require additionalbuffering capability thereby avoiding an increase in cost for thedevices that would be involved in increasing the size of their buffers.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of an NAS device 100 having asecure portion controlled by a remote content provider as a buffer fordigital content. Among others, a content provider may include a mediastreamer that streams media such as movies, televisions shows, etc. to auser, such as Netflix®, Hulu®, Vude®, Amazon®, or iTunes®. A NAS devicemay comprise one or more storage devices, a network interface, and oneor more processors, as described in more detail in connection with FIG.3. The one or more storage devices may include any of a hard disk drive(HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a solid state hybrid drive, etc. Thestorage may comprise, for example, magnetic non-volatile storage, solidstate non-volatile storage or hybrid forms of magnetic and solid statestorage. The storage may be configured, for example, as a RedundantArray of Inexpensive Disks (RAID).

For example, the network interface of the NAS device 100 may beconfigured to enable the NAS device 100 to access, among others,Ethernet, the Internet, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network(WAN), Wi-Fi a cloud computing environment, a remote NAS device, anetwork share, a personal computer and/or a tablet. The NAS device 100may also couple to a USB-connected device, such as a USB storage device.The NAS device 100 may also be configured to access any other externaldevices and/or services directly (e.g., locally) or indirectly coupledthereto. The NAS device 100 may also be configured to couple to anyexternally accessible storage device, for example, an ESATA device, aThunderbolt device, a FireWire device or any secondary storage devicethat is accessible to the NAS device 100.

The NAS device 100 includes a user media area 102 that may be accessibleby a user of the local network. The device 100 includes a secure region104, e.g., a secure content media area, for which access may becontrolled by the remote content provider. For example, the secureregion may be a non-user accessible area on a hard drive, SSD, or otherdata storage device. Thus, access to the secure region of the storagefor the NAS device may be controlled based on instructions received froma remote content provider outside of the local network.

The secure region may be used, e.g., to store a streamed movie ortelevision show, among other types of received content.

The secure region may be inaccessible by the user without permissionfrom the content provider. The secure region may be hidden from theuser. This allows the content provider to continue to maintain controlof the media content even once it has been pushed to the NAS device,e.g., in a user's home.

Digital content may be stored in the secure region 104 using encryptionthat secures the streamed content to the secure region 104 of the NAS.For example, a type of Digital Rights Management (DRM) encryption may beemployed to store the digital content in the secure region 104. Amongother types of DRM encryption that may be used, one example of DRMencryption that may be employed is Secure Content Storage Association(SCSA) type encryption. Such encryption may secure the digital contentto the drive of the secure region and require keys in order to accessthe content.

The NAS device may configured so that the amount of data stored at thesecure region and/or the type of encryption used to store streamedcontent in the secure region 104 may be controlled by the stream contentprovider.

FIG. 2 illustrates a computer system 200 including an NAS device 206coupled to a local network. The NAS device 206 is configured to connectto a remote content provider 202 outside of the local network via ISPnetwork 204 in order to receive streamed content from the stream contentprovider 202. Among others, a content provider may include a mediastreamer that streams media such as movies, televisions shows, etc. to auser, such as Netflix®, Hulu®, Vudu®, Amazon®, or iTunes®. NAS device206 includes a secure buffer region 210. Secure buffer region comprisesat least a portion of the storage at NAS device 206. NAS device 206 mayalso be connected via the local network to any number of display devices208, such as smart TVs, tablets, mobile phones, personal computers,media streaming devices and/or the like.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example system 300 in which NAS device 306 iscoupled to multiple display devices 308 via local network 310, such as auser's home network.

The secure memory region 210 of NAS device 206 may be configured as abuffer for receiving steaming content for the at least one displaydevice 208 in a manner controlled by the stream content provider 202.Display devices 208 may have minimal buffer storage for a number ofreasons. For example, the cost of the display device may be reduced byrequiring a smaller amount of buffer storage in the display device.Additionally, content providers may prefer smaller buffers in displaydevices because this allows them to maintain control of their content byproviding smaller amounts at a time to the display device.

By providing a larger buffer in the secure region of the NAS device 206,306 that can be used by the display device enables the content provider202, 302 to use burst transmission to stream the content in largerbursts than might be possible for transmissions to a smaller buffer.Also, as the streamed content continues to be controlled by the streamcontent provider, the stream content provider can use burst transmissionwithout risking misappropriation of the streamed content by the user.

For example, once a user requests content from a stream content providervia a display device 208, the NAS device 206 may negotiate with thestream content provider 202 to receive the desired content and to bufferan encrypted stream of the content in the secure region 210. Suchnegotiation may include, e.g., informing the stream content provider ofa secure region within the NAS device that is not accessible by a user.The NAS device may inform the stream content provider of the availablesize of the secure region or may negotiate with the stream contentprovider to agree on a size of a secure buffer. Among other negotiatedaspects, the NAS device may negotiate with the stream content providerto agree on a length of time for which the content will be retained atthe secure region of the NAS device, requirements for the user to accessthe streamed content, whether the streamed data is encrypted, and keysfor accessing encrypted content. For example, requirements for accessingthe streamed content may be time based, user based, etc. If the streamedcontent is encrypted, a decryption key may also be obtained. The keysmay be obtained based on a payment, a license server, etc. The NASdevice 206 may then present the streamed content from the secure regionto the display device 208 as encrypted content.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the NAS device may comprise a networkinterface 312 configured to couple the NAS device 306 to access one ormore networks, such as the user's network 310 and/or the ISP network304. This network interface may enable the NAS device 306 to be accessedby a display device 308 and to enable the NAS device 306 to accessremote content providers 302 outside the user's network, e.g., via ISP304. For example, the network interface of the NAS device 100 may beconfigured to enable the NAS device 100 to access, among others,Ethernet, the Internet, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network(WAN), Wi-Fi a cloud computing environment, a remote NAS device, anetwork share, a personal computer and/or a tablet. The networkinterface may enable communications according to the Standards of theInstitute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE), Standards802.11. The NAS device 100 may also couple to a USB-connected device,such as a USB storage device. The NAS device 100 may also be configuredto access any other external devices and/or services directly (e.g.,locally) or indirectly coupled thereto. The NAS device 100 may also beconfigured to couple to any externally accessible storage device, forexample, an ESATA device, a Thunderbolt device, a FireWire device or anysecondary storage device that is accessible to the NAS device 100.

NAS device 306 may further comprise a processor 314 configured tocontrol storage of content in the secure region 324 and to controlaccess to the secure region 324 of the storage based on instructionsreceived from a remote content provider, in addition to control of useraccessible storage 322.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an example, in which previously bufferedcontent can be purchased by the user and reassigned to the useraccessible region 402 of the NAS device. Among other times, anopportunity to purchase the content may be presented to the user afterthe content has been viewed. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, theNAS device 400 may include a user accessible media area 402 and a secureregion 404. Streamed content in secure region 404 may be inaccessible tothe user and may instead be controlled by a stream content provider.

In one example, the NAS device 400 may be configured to move a receiveddigital object stored in the secure region 404 to the first region,e.g., 402 along with keys for accessing the digital object based oninstructions from the remote content provider, as illustrated in FIG.4B. The digital object secured by the remote content provider may bemoved to the user accessible area 402 along with the appropriate keysfor their account. The account may be, among other types of accountsproviding DRM, an SCSA account.

In another example, the NAS device may be configured to reallocate aportion of the secure region storing a streamed object to the firstregion based on instructions from the remote content provider. Forexample, the digital object may be stored in a Shingled MagneticRecording (SMR) zone, where the zone itself is protected and the entirezone is re-allocated to the user area when content is purchased. Anunused portion of the user accessible region 402 can be designated toreplace the portion of the secure region 404 that is re-allocated to theuser area 402.

In one aspect, NAS device my use Virtual Private Network (VPN)encryption to receive the streaming content. The addition of VPNencryption on the NAS may help to avoid throttling on the stream,because it may avoid detection of the stream, e.g., by the ISP. As theISP does not detect the destination, ISP selective throttling may beavoided. Additionally, the use of VPN encryption further secures thedigital content.

Display devices may have their application software altered to “look”for a secure host, e.g., a NAS device having a secure region, within thehome network prior to making a connection to the host provider, e.g.,stream content provider. This information can then be sent from thedisplay device to the stream provider to allow the content provider tomake use of the secure network storage. Thus, the content provider maybe informed of the presence of a NAS device having a secure region thatcan be used as a secure buffer for a display device that is requestingstreaming content. The stream provider may also discover a secure streambuffer on network attached storage in other ways.

The secure region of the NAS device may be managed, e.g., between an NASdevice application, DRM controls and the remote content provider. Forexample, display devices may go to the NAS device for content. The NASdevice may then negotiate with the content provider for the digitalcontent. The content may be preloaded and buffered using a desiredencrypted stream, as specified by the content provider, across the ISPnetwork to the secure area in the NAS device. The stream data may thenbe presented from the secure area of the NAS device as standardencrypted content to the display device.

Remote content providers can pre-load the secure region of the NASdevice without opening themselves up to misappropriation of the content,because they continue to control the secure portion of the in-home mediastorage, and therefore, control access to the media after it is storedat the NAS device. Thus, the remote content providers can stream, orpush, content to users at selected times that are beneficial for thestream content provider. This allows the content provider to transmitthe content at appropriate times, e.g., to stage the desired content inthe home network. This may lower the cost of such streaming, because thetime of the streaming may be selected to be beneficial to the contentprovider. For example, times of lower network usage, or for which QoScosts are reduced may be selected for streaming the content to the user.Pre-loading the secure portion of the NAS device may allow for thecontent provider to extent storage to the edge of the network atrelatively low cost per unit per month. A simple user queue or a userprofile may be used by the content provider to determine the content topre-store in the secure buffer.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart 500 of a computer assisted method of transmittingcontent to a secured buffer at a storage device for a remote localnetwork. The method may be performed by a computer at a contentprovider, such as a stream content provider, for transmitting content toa secured buffer at a network attached storage device. For example, thecontent may be streamed from a stream content provider. The remote localnetwork may be, for example a user's home network. At 502, the contentprovider receives an indication of an NAS device associated with a userand having a secure region. At 504, the content provider transmitscontent for viewing by the user to a secure region within the NASdevice. The content may be transmitted in response to a request from auser for content, or may involve preloading content to the user's NASdevice. At 506, the content provider transmits instructions to the NASdevice to control the user's access to the content.

Transmitting the content may optionally include preloading the contentto the NAS device, at 508. Preloading the content helps to ensure anenjoyable viewing experience by helping to prevent hic-ups or stalling,for example while a display waits for the next packet of streamedcontent to be received. Optional aspects are illustrated in FIGS. 5 and6 as having a dashed line. The content may be selected based on a userqueue list of desired content and/or a user profile, at 510. Forexample, the system can review your “to watch” queue and pre-downloadthose to speed up watching. By pre-downloading (in whole or in part)content, very high definition (4K) movies that would otherwise be toolarge to realistically stream can be pre-stored on the NAS device.

Additionally, the system can be used to time-shift downloads to a timewith more available bandwidth, e.g., during a time of reduced use in ahome or neighborhood, when a shared line such as cable is used, in orderto avoid congestion and video stuttering. For example, at 512, thetransmission of preload content may be scheduled by selecting atransmission time based on bandwidth availability to transmit thecontent.

The transmission of instructions to the NAS device to control the user'saccess to the content at 506 may include controlling an amount of datastored at the secure region of the NAS device and/or controlling anencryption type used in the secure region of the NAS device. Althoughthe NAS device may be configured to allow the content provider tocontrol an amount of data stored in the secure region, there may be alimit to the amount of storage that can be used by the remote contentprovider. For example, the secure region may be limited to apredetermined amount of the storage of the NAS device. This limit on thesecure region maintains a certain amount of storage for the useraccessible region of the NAS device.

The secure region of the NAS device may be treated as a buffer for adisplay device attached to the NAS device via the remote local network.

At 514, the content provider may instruct the NAS device to transfer adigital object stored in the secure region to the user accessible regionalong with keys for accessing the digital object, as described inconnection with FIGS. 4A and 4B.

Alternately, the content provider may instruct the NAS device toallocate to the user accessible region a portion of the secure region ofthe NAS device storing the digital object at 516.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart 600 of a computer assisted method of receiving,at an NAS device, receiving content from a remote content provider. Themethod may be performed by an NAS device having a user accessible regionand a secure region. The NAS device may be configured to couple, forexample, to a user's home network. At 602, the NAS device negotiateswith the remote content provider to receive instructions for receivingand storing content from the remote content provider. Such negotiationmay be made in response to a request for content from a connecteddisplay device in the user's home network. Such negotiation may also beinitiated by the remote content provider after it has been informed ofthe presence of the NAS device. The remote content provider may, forexample, receive an indication of the NAS device from a display devicecoupled to the NAS device, and/or may discover the presence of an NAShaving secure storage in a different manner. An indication of the NASdevice with secure storage may be transmitted from the display device inconnection with a request for content from the display device.

At 604, the NAS device receives the digital content from the remotecontent provider. At 606, the NAS device stores the digital content inthe secure region of the NAS device.

At 608, the NAS device controls access by the user to the digitalcontent stored in the secure region based on instructions from theremote content provider. For example, the digital content stored in thesecure region may be inaccessible by the user of the display devicewithout permission from the remote content provider. The secure regionof the NAS device may be, for example, hidden from the user.

As part of storing the digital content in the secure region at 606, theNAS device may store the digital content using encryption at 612,wherein the stored digital content is secured to the secure region ofthe NAS device. The type of encryption used may be controlled based oninstructions from the remote content provider. A connection may beestablished at the NAS device with a display device, such that storingthe content in the secure region comprises buffering the digital contentfor presentation to a user at the display device in a manner controlledby the stream content provider, as at 614.

At 616, an amount of data stored at the secure region of the NAS devicemay be controlled, e.g., based on instructions from the remote contentprovider. The amount of storage that can be controlled by the remotecontent provider may have an upper limit. At 618, an encryption typeused to store the digital content in the secure region of the NAS devicemay be controlled based on instructions from the remote contentprovider.

Content stored in the secure region may be reassigned to the useraccessible region.

In one example, at 620, the NAS device may move a digital object storedin the secure region of the NAS device to the user accessible regionalong with keys for accessing the digital object based on instructionsfrom the remote content provider.

In another example, at 622, the NAS device may allocate, to the useraccessible region, a portion of the secure region of the NAS devicestoring a digital object based on instructions from the remote contentprovider.

The NAS device may use virtual private network encryption at 610 toreceive the streaming content from the stream content provider.

At 624, the NAS device may present the stored content from the secureregion to a display device as encrypted content. This maintainsprotection of the content. The display device may include a decryptionmodule that decodes the encrypted content as it is transmitted from thesecure region of the NAS device to the display device.

By way of example, an element, or any portion of an element, or anycombination of elements may be implemented with a “processing system”that includes one or more processors. Examples of processors includemicroprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs),field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices(PLDs), state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, andother suitable hardware configured to perform the various functionalitydescribed throughout this disclosure. One or more processors in theprocessing system may execute software. Software shall be construedbroadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments,program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications,software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines,objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc.,whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode,hardware description language, or otherwise.

Accordingly, in one or more exemplary embodiments, the functionsdescribed may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or anycombination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may bestored on or encoded as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes computerstorage media. Storage media may be any available media that can beaccessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, suchcomputer-readable media can comprise a random-access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM(EEPROM), compact disk ROM (CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage,magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any othermedium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in theform of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by acomputer. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes CD, laser disc,optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), and floppy disk where disksusually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce dataoptically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be includedwithin the scope of computer-readable media.

FIG. 7 presents an example system diagram of various hardware componentsand other features, for use in accordance with aspects presented herein.Certain aspects may be implemented using software, hardware, or acombination thereof and may be implemented using one or more computersystems or other processing systems. One implementation may include oneor more computer systems capable of carrying out the functionalitydescribed herein. An example of such a computer system 700 is shown inFIG. 7.

Computer system 700 includes one or more processors, such as processor704. The processor 704 is connected to a communication infrastructure706 (e.g., a communications bus, cross-over bar, or network). Varioussoftware implementations are described in terms of this example computersystem. After reading this description, it will become apparent to aperson skilled in the relevant art(s) that other computer systems and/orarchitectures can be used to implement the VBT.

Computer system 700 can include a display interface 702 that forwardsgraphics, text, and other data from the communication infrastructure 706(or from a frame buffer not shown) for display on a display unit 730.Computer system 700 also includes a main memory 708, preferably RAM, andmay also include a secondary memory 710. The secondary memory 710 mayinclude, for example, a hard disk drive 712 (or hybrid and/or solidstate drives) and/or a removable storage drive 714, representing afloppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, etc.The removable storage drive 714 reads from and/or writes to a removablestorage unit 718 in a well-known manner. Removable storage unit 718,represents a floppy disk, magnetic tape, optical disk, etc., which isread by and written to removable storage drive 714. As will beappreciated, the removable storage unit 718 includes a computer usablestorage medium having stored therein computer software and/or data.

In alternative implementations, secondary memory 710 may include othersimilar devices for allowing computer programs or other instructions tobe loaded into computer system 700. Such devices may include, forexample, a removable storage unit 42722 and an interface 720. Examplesof such may include a program cartridge and cartridge interface (such asthat found in video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as anEPROM, or programmable read only memory (PROM)) and associated socket,and other removable storage units 42722 and interfaces 720, which allowsoftware and data to be transferred from the removable storage unit42722 to computer system 700.

Computer system 700 may also include a communications interface 724.Communications interface 724 allows software and data to be transferredbetween computer system 700 and external devices. Examples ofcommunications interface 724 may include a modem, a network interface(such as an Ethernet card), a communications port, a Personal ComputerMemory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slot and card, etc.Software and data transferred via communications interface 724 are inthe form of signals 728, which may be electronic, electromagnetic,optical or other signals capable of being received by communicationsinterface 724. These signals 728 are provided to communicationsinterface 724 via a communications path (e.g., channel) 726. This path726 carries signals 728 and may be implemented using wire or cable,fiber optics, a telephone line, a cellular link, a radio frequency (RF)link and/or other communications channels. In this document, the terms“computer program medium” and “computer usable medium” are used to refergenerally to media such as a removable storage drive 714, a hard diskinstalled in hard disk drive 712, and signals 728. These computerprogram products provide software to the computer system 700. Someembodiments presented herein may include such computer program products.

Computer programs (also referred to as computer control logic) arestored in main memory 708 and/or secondary memory 710. Computer programsmay also be received via communications interface 724. Such computerprograms, when executed, enable the computer system 700 to perform thefeatures presented herein. In particular, the computer programs, whenexecuted, enable the processor 704 to perform the features presentedherein. Accordingly, such computer programs represent controllers of thecomputer system 700.

In an implementation using software, the software may be stored in acomputer program product and loaded into computer system 700 usingremovable storage drive 714, hard drive 712, or communications interface720. The control logic (software), when executed by the processor 704,causes the processor 704 to perform the functions described herein.Another implementation may primarily be implemented in hardware using,for example, hardware components, such as application specificintegrated circuits (ASICs). Implementation of the hardware statemachine so as to perform the functions described herein will be apparentto persons skilled in the relevant art(s).

In yet another implementation, certain aspects may be implemented usinga combination of both hardware and software.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of various example system components, inaccordance with some embodiments presented herein. FIG. 8 shows acommunication system 800 usable in accordance with the embodimentspresented herein. The communication system 800 includes one or moreaccessors 860, 862 (also referred to interchangeably herein as one ormore “users” or clients) and one or more terminals 842, 866. In animplementation, data for use in accordance with some embodiments may be,for example, input and/or accessed by accessors 860, 864 via terminals842, 866, such as personal computers (PCs), minicomputers, mainframecomputers, microcomputers, telephonic devices, or wireless devices, suchas personal digital assistants (“PDAs”) or a hand-held wireless devicescoupled to a server 843, such as a PC, minicomputer, mainframe computer,microcomputer, or other device having a processor and a repository fordata and/or connection to a repository for data, via, for example, anetwork 844, such as the Internet or an intranet, and couplings 845,846, 864. The couplings 845, 846, 864 include, for example, wired,wireless, or fiber optic links.

The various exemplary embodiments are provided to enable one of ordinaryskill in the art to practice various aspects of the present invention.Modifications to exemplary embodiments presented throughout thisdisclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and theconcepts disclosed herein may be extended to other devices. Allstructural and functional equivalents to the various components of theexemplary embodiments described throughout this disclosure that areknown or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the artare expressly incorporated herein by reference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A streaming device configured to be coupled to alocal area network, the streaming device comprising: a network interfaceconfigured to receive digital content from a remote content provideroutside of the local area network; and a processor configured to: find astorage device on the local area network with an available secure regionfor storing digital content; send connection information for the storagedevice to the remote content provider to enable establishing a securestorage buffer in the storage device by the remote content provider, thesecure storage buffer configured to enable the remote content providerto pre-load digital content on the storage device; request a firstdigital content from the remote content provider; receive an access keyto a pre-loaded copy of the first digital content stored on the storagedevice on the local area network; and obtain the first digital contentfrom the storage device using the access key.
 2. The streaming device ofclaim 1, wherein the secure storage buffer is inaccessible by thestreaming device without permission from the remote content provider. 3.The streaming device of claim 1, wherein the access key is provided bythe remote content provider in response to a payment.
 4. The streamingdevice of claim 1, further comprising a display.
 5. The streaming deviceof claim 4, wherein the streaming device is a smart television.
 6. Thestreaming device of claim 1, wherein the access key comprises adecryption key for the first digital content.
 7. The streaming device ofclaim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to decrypt thefirst digital content using the decryption key.
 8. The streaming deviceof claim 1, further comprising a decryption module for decodingencrypted digital content.
 9. The streaming device of claim 1, whereinobtaining the first digital content from the storage device using theaccess key comprises: streaming the first digital content from thesecure storage buffer in the storage device.
 10. A method for receivingdigital content from a remote content provider on a streaming device,the method comprising: finding a storage device with an available secureregion for storing digital content, the storage device located on alocal area network with the streaming device; sending connectioninformation for the storage device to the remote content provider toenable establishing a secure storage buffer in the storage device by theremote content provider, the secure storage buffer configured to enablethe remote content provider to pre-load digital content on the storagedevice; requesting a first digital content from the remote contentprovider; receiving an access key to a pre-loaded copy of the firstdigital content stored on the storage device on the local area network;and obtaining the first digital content from the storage device usingthe access key.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the secure storagebuffer is inaccessible by the streaming device without permission fromthe remote content provider.
 12. The method of claim 10, whereinestablishing the secure storage buffer in the storage device includesencrypting the first digital content and determining a decryption key.13. The method of claim 10, wherein the access key is provided by theremote content provider in response to a payment.
 14. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the streaming device is a smart television.
 15. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the access key comprises a decryption keyfor the first digital content.
 16. The method of claim 15, furthercomprising decrypting the first digital content using the decryptionkey.
 17. The method of claim 10, wherein obtaining the first digitalcontent from the storage device using the access key comprises:streaming the first digital content from the secure storage buffer inthe storage device.
 18. A streaming device configured to be coupled to alocal area network, the streaming device comprising: means for receivingdigital content from a remote content provider outside of the local areanetwork; means for decrypting encrypted digital content; and a processorconfigured to: find a storage device on the local area network with anavailable secure region for storing digital content; send connectioninformation for the storage device to a remote content provider toenable establishing a secure storage buffer in the storage device by theremote content provider, the secure storage buffer configured to enablethe remote content provider to pre-load digital content on the storagedevice; request a first digital content from the remote contentprovider; receive an access key to a pre-loaded copy of the firstdigital content stored on the storage device on the local area network;and obtain the first digital content from the storage device using theaccess key.
 19. The streaming device of claim 18, wherein the securestorage buffer is inaccessible by the streaming device withoutpermission from the remote content provider.
 20. The streaming device ofclaim 18, wherein the means for decrypting encrypted digital content isconfigured to decrypt the first digital content using a decryption keyprovided by the remote content provider.